BS 6576:2005+A1:2012

This standard covers how to diagnose and treat rising damp, and how to install a damp-proof course. It emphasizes the need to differentiate between rising damp and other causes of damp conditions. It gives recommendations for the chemical treatment of rising damp in existing buildings with solid walls, cavity walls (unfilled or filled) and random rubble-filled walls. Essential precautions and procedures for installing chemical damp-proof courses are also indicated.

This British Standard gives recommendations for the procedures to be used in diagnosing and treating rising damp in walls of existing buildings.

This British Standard:

• emphasizes the need to differentiate between rising damp and other causes for damp conditions in diagnosis;

• gives recommendations for the chemical treatment of rising damp in existing buildings with solid walls, cavity walls (unfilled or filled) and random rubble-filled walls, including associated reinstatement of plaster/dry linings; and

• indicates essential precautions and procedures for installing chemical damp-proof courses.

This British Standard does not cover the treatment of walls where treatment is inappropriate, such as stud walls, or where other treatments are appropriate, such as walls below ground level or under hydrostatic pressure, whose treatment is described in BS8102.

NOTE The successful treatment of rising damp depends not only on following the recommendations of this standard but also on the effectiveness of the damp-proof course materials. It has been assumed in the drafting of the standard that suitable materials will be used. A number of damp-proof course materials are endorsed by third party certification.